This annual report is released in advance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October. The study uses 2015 data, the most recent year for which information is available. The study covers homicides involving one female murder victim and one male offender, and uses data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Supplementary Homicide Report.

The study found that nationwide, 93 percent of women killed by men were murdered by someone they knew and that the most common weapon used was a gun.

Tennessee, previously ranked ninth in the nation, is now ranked fourth. Only Alaska, Nevada, and Louisiana are ranked higher.

In Tennessee:

71 females were murdered by males in Tennessee in 2015

The homicide rate among females murdered by males in Tennessee was 2.10 per 100,000 in 2015

Ranked 4th in the United States

AGE
For homicides in which the age of the victim was reported (70 homicides), 4 victims (6 percent) were less than 18 years old and 10 victims (14 percent) were 65 years of age or older. The average age was 40 years old.

RACE
Out of 71 female homicide victims, 44 were white and 27 were black.

MOST COMMON WEAPONS
For homicides in which the weapon used could be identified, 71 percent of female victims (45 out of 63) were shot and killed with guns. Of these, 73 percent (33 victims) were killed with handguns. There were 12 females killed with knives or other cutting instruments, 2 females killed by a blunt object, and 2 females killed by bodily force.

VICTIM/OFFENDER RELATIONSHIP
For homicides in which the victim to offender relationship could be identified, 96 percent of female victims (64 out of 67) were murdered by someone they knew. Three female victims were killed by strangers. Of the victims who knew their offenders, 72 percent (46 victims) were wives, common-law wives, ex-wives, or girlfriends of the offenders. Among the female intimates who were murdered, 72 percent (33 victims) were killed with guns; 76 percent of these (25 victims) were shot and killed with handguns.

CIRCUMSTANCE
For homicides in which the circumstances could be identified, 95 percent (40 out of 42) were not related to the commission of any other felony. Of these, 60 percent (24 homicides) involved arguments between the victim and the offender.